PRESS RELEASE

Government Delays lead Starving Benefit Claimant to make Public Protest

EMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY 17TH MAY, 09:31.

On 17th May at 9:30, a peaceful protester will be chained to Chippenham Job Centre, to highlight extreme delays in benefit payments, and practices forcing people out of work and onto benefits.

He will refuse to leave until the Government Agency has handed over at least half of the money due, and the issue is highlighted. He faces starvation otherwise. (He also faces insolvency and eviction.) Many people using the DWP (Department of Work & Pensions) are increasingly experiencing these problems of delay in making payments they are due, and being forced out of work and onto benefits by the cost of these delays. This is the reverse of what the DWP is for.
The taxpayer is feeding this bloated bureaucracy, instead of funds being spent helping people off benefits, which would save money. This waste & delay should stop before it is too late.

Quotes (contracted)

"I've already given you eight months; I don't have any food left," said Robin H.
"These things take time, it'll be at least eight more weeks," replied the DWP.
"You said that eight weeks ago. There's no more time."

The DWP stated a little while ago that it had overpaid some claimants.
Underpaying others is not the right remedy!

The Daily Politics covered another meltdown in the DWP on Monday 14th: New Deal job scheme "a failure".

Summary & Source

The protest is a chained sit-in until (minor reasonable) demands are met.
This is a one-shot protest by a group of friends, not an organisation or campaign. Follow-ups are not planned, but not ruled-out. Outcomes/progress will be available on request.

Notes to Editors

Disclaimer: This is a peaceful protest, and anyone pretending to be one of the organisers claiming otherwise would be deliberately misleading. No threats, extortion, or deliberate violence will be used by the protesting side.

Due to bad weather, expected time of waiting, and for ease of interviewing, the protestor will be attached to a pillar inside the building. In the event that we are evicted from the building, Robin will be chained instead to the downstairs car park railings instead, or somewhere similar nearby.

A protest FAQ is also available, for all the junk that was edited out of this release.

Contacts

Robin Hodson 07811 550086 incertia@hotmail.com
It is possible that Robin's phone may be looked-after and answered by a friend, as well.
Robin's email is slow and inaccessible (to him), so please only use for long-term messages.

Robin's mailing address is:
8, Westbrook Close,
Frogwell Lane,
CHIPPENHAM, Wilts
SN14 0DL

Chippenham Job Centre: (Nr. the Magistrates' Court)
Cyppa Court,
Avenue La Fleche,
CHIPPENHAM,
Wilts SN15 3LH
Tel. 01249 425800

Robin H. is organising this event, and he will be the main protestor. It is possible he may be joined by others in the same position queuing in the building. There may be a helper also attending, helping Robin get the chains locked quickly, although one just pulled out.

Please phone 01249 425800 and ask to be put through to Chippenham Job Centre, to contact Robin while he is chained up.

Further people have lent support, advice, loans, and equipment, but will not be attending.

This page is always available, from freedom.is/credit

Release written & by submitted Robin H. Edited by Anon.

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